Laser-powered satellites

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Most communications satellites are currently powered by solar panels which are limited by both the size of the panels and the amount of sunlight. A new report published in New Scientist now claims that the satellites of the future may by powered by strong laser beams which could be converted into electricity by the use of existing solar panels.

The idea is the brainchild of Alexander Zholents of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California. He is designing a laser so powerful that it would increase the power that communications satellites now receive in order to run additional services like extra communications, or TV channels. The massive free-electron laser relies on a "soup of free-floating electrons" to generate the beam, unlike current lasers which make use of electrons within a substance like crystal. By not using a medium, you free the limits of what is possible.

However, the estimated cost of building such a free-electron laser may be what limits the project in the end. The only other existing free-electron laser is in the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Virginia. The project director of that facility has said that while the project is technically feasible, it would require a lot of time and money to implement. Zholents admits that it is essential to have commercial backing, and that may be very hard to find.